Ever Wondered How....

Prime Lenses Are Used?

Sometimes it’s fun to use a camera with only one Prime lens (non zoom, fixed focal length lens) to shoot with. Staying with one focal length makes you concentrate even more with composition and depth of field requirements. It puts you in a different creative style of thinking before shooting using your feet to zoom in and out. Even a phone with a fixed lens is bringing out the artist in some people.

Primes lenses are general fitted with good to excellent glass. You can shoot with very large apertures for example f1.8 f1.4 f1.2 that will allow you to capture photos in low light and you may not need to increase the ISO too much. If you’re a beginner you don’t have to spend a fortune on a standard Prime lens, a Canon 50mm f1.8 is inexpensive and it’s a great lens for learning.

Producing shallow depth of field on a Prime lens can be attractive for portraits if you want that effect, with the sharp focus on the eyes, rendering the face softer and the background extremely out of focus.

To have Zoom lenses with low light capabilities and superb clarity you would need to spend big dollars. These type lenses are used by professionals such as newspaper/magazines, wedding photographers where time is critical.

So what is an ideal walk around Prime lens to choose? That generally is a choice between a 28mm, 35mm or 50mm depending on your camera and how much width you need or be happy shooting with. You may even want to use a Prime Telephoto Lens for the day it’s up to you. If you have a zoom lens and the discipline to leave it set on a different focal length each time you go out you will get a better idea of what might best suits.